‘Normalcy returned to a large extent; people back in day-to-day life’
Shillong, March 19: The state government is carefully monitoring the situation in Garo Hills even as normalcy has returned to a large extent to the region with the people engaged in their day-to-day life, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said on Thursday.
“Normalcy returned — to a large extent it has returned and…people are now getting on with their day‑to‑day life,” Sangma told reporters after meeting Governor CH Vijayashankar.
The Chief Minister noted that violence has come down with only reports of “some sporadic incidents” once in a while.
“After assessing the situation, the internet ban has been lifted. But we are carefully monitoring the situation…we are keeping a close watch to ensure normalcy…,” he said.
Informing that he had briefed the Governor on the prevailing situation in Garo Hills, arising out of violent protests against non-tribal participation in Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) election, which was deferred by six months after the unrest.
“For most of the past two weeks, I was in Garo Hills…all this while, we were able to communicate with the Governor on the phone and therefore, I felt it appropriate that I must come and brief him about the current prevailing situation specially in Garo Hills and also the different incidents that led to the recent law‑and‑order situation.”
He was accompanied by Deputy Chief Minister in‑charge Home Prestone Tynsong.
“So complete briefing on the entire matter was given to the Governor,” the CM said while adding the Governor is “much more aware about what happened”.
On arrests linked to recent unrest, Sangma said the action is a police matter and law will take its own course based evidence at hand.
“I am not aware of how many arrests have been made, I am not aware of who all have been arrested as it is purely a police matter and police is taking steps as per law and as per evidence….” he said.
